Optically tracked projectile

ABSTRACT

A projectile, that can be tracked by optical means, is fitted with a special tracer incorporated into the projectile&#39;s trailing edge. The rearward facing special tracer is incorporated into a metal disk which is crimped to the projectile&#39;s metal jacket. The special tracer includes micro-prismatic features that reflect light at the incidence angle. Alternatively, the disk incorporates a fluorescent dye that is responsive to a laser emission. External emitted radiation is reflected or re-emitted from the trailing edge of the projectile, allowing for an external electro-optic tracking device to identify the position of the projectile in flight.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from the U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/803,826 filed Mar. 21, 2013; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/220,404 filed Mar. 20, 2014; U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/201,255 filed Aug. 5, 2015; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/228,217, filed Aug. 4, 2016. The subject matter of said patent application Ser. No. 14/220,404 and Ser. No. 15/228,217 are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an ammunition projectile that allows for position observation and tracking when illuminated. The projectile may function with a fire control device that tracks the path of a projectile while in ballistic flight toward a given target.

Tracer technology was developed by the British defense research establishment in the midst of the First World War. The technology continues to be used 100 years later. In machine guns, belts of ammunition are mixed—ball and tracer combinations. Unfortunately the 100 year old technology has a number of practical drawbacks: (1) The tracer ammunition's ballistics differ from the trajectory of ball ammunition, (2) handling and inclusion of pyrotechnic tracers in ammunition significantly increases the cost of ammunition, (3) tracers cause unwanted range fires in training, (4) the glow emitted by tracers backlights friendly forces, vehicles, equipment and aircraft and (5) tracers are not optimized for automatic tracking technology.

Retro-Reflection:

Use of retro-reflectors is ubiquitous in road signs where the technology was invented in the United Kingdom and introduced in the late 1930s. Retro-reflectors reflect light to the emission source with a minimum of scattering. There are three principal types of retro-reflectors: corner cube reflectors, cat's eyes and phase conjugated mirrors. The coefficient of luminosity returned in the direction of the emission source is high. In addition to their use in road signs, retro-reflectors are used in safety reflectors, high visibility clothing and surveying. NASA has also used this technology in the space program. The Apollo 11, 14 and 15 missions placed retro-reflectors on the moon surface allowing for precise measurements of the moon/earth distance. Today companies like 3M and Orafal (formerly Reflexite) now dominate the manufacturing of retro-reflective sheathing and tape that are incorporated into a wide variety of products.

Retro-Reflective Materials:

Retro-reflective materials are generally categorized as either using glass beads or prismatic technology. The glass bead retro-reflective technology from the 1930's is the oldest; the prismatic technology was developed by Reflexite Americas in the 1960's. Glass bead tapes reflect light back less efficiently than do prismatics, so there are advantages to using prismatic solutions. Prismatic tape exhibits a tighter, more efficient return of light. A brighter, tighter beam extends much further than with glass bead retro-reflectors, giving prismatic tapes an operating range beyond the thousand foot mark. For marine, highway or traffic applications, where long distance conspicuity is important, prismatics are definitely preferred.

Glass bead retro-reflective materials are produced in tape form as both (1) engineering grade glass bead reflective tape, and (2) high intensity glass bead reflective tape.

Engineering Grade Glass Bead Reflective Tape:

Engineering grade reflective tape starts with a carrier film that is metalized on the top. Glass beads are applied to this layer so that about fifty percent (50%) of the bead is embedded in the metalized layer. This gives the beads their reflective properties. Then a layer of either acrylic or polyester is applied over the top. This layer can either be clear to make white reflective tape or it can be colored to create the different color reflective tapes. A layer of adhesive is then applied to the bottom of the tape and a release liner is applied to that layer. The tape is rolled up, slit to width and then sold. It shout be noted that an acrylic layered film will not stretch and a polyester layered film will. Because of the heat used in the manufacturing process, engineering grade films end up being a single layer so they do not delaminate.

High Intensity Glass Bead Reflective Tape:

High intensity reflective tape is made in layers. The first layer has a grid built into the tape, normally using a honeycomb type pattern. This pattern holds the glass beads so that they are in separate cells. The glass beads are bonded to the bottom of this cell, then a layer of acrylic or polyester is applied over the top of the cell leaving a small air space above the beads. A layer of adhesive and a release liner are then applied to the bottom of the tape.

While the reflective tape industry was originally founded using glass bead technology, micro-prismatic solutions have come of age since the 1970's.

Non-Metalized Micro-Prismatic Reflective Tape:

The first step in creating non-metalized reflective films utilizes a prism array produced from acrylic or another clear resin. This becomes the top layer of the film. Non-metalized films are more vivid but not necessarily more reflective.

Retro-Reflector Production and Prismatic Tape:

Clearly, the easiest and simplest way to produce retro-reflective material involves glass beads that are incorporated into a film. This glass bead technology was pioneered in the 1930s and has undergone numerous improvements over the decades. Prismatic reflective tapes were invented by Reflexite Americas in the 1960s. Micro-reflective materials were developed in the early 1990's. Following the U.S. Pat. No. 5,171,624, the Reflexite Corporation incorporated micro-reflective materials into polymers that have been widely adopted into sheeting material.

Today, retro-reflective materials, generally produced as tape or sheeting, are ubiquitous in our lives. However, the glass bead and polymer based micro-prismatics do not lend themselves to direct integration into projectiles that must operate in a high temperature environment.

Application or Retro-Reflection Technology to Ammunition:

The U.S. Pat. No. 3,757,623 to Bellinger disclosed the use of retro-reflectors in ammunition. Bellinger proposed incorporating glass bead retro-reflectors or corner cube retro-reflectors, also known as “cat's eyes”, on the rear of a munition projectile and using a narrow beam laser to illuminate the target area to observe the projectile when it enters the beam. The gunner is then able to adjust the gun's bearings so that the projectile impacts the target.

The U.S. Pat. No. 4,015,258 to Smith disclosed incorporating the basic elements of Bellinger's system into an aircraft platform and importantly described the use of a diverging or diffused laser beam. Again, like Bellinger, the target is illuminated coinciding with the travel time associated with a projectile reaching a target.

Bellinger and Smith disclose the use of typical retro-reflective solutions by attaching glass beads to, or embossing a retro-reflective pattern on, the trailing edge of a projectile. Bellinger's and Smith's patents used the technology of their day, incorporating retro-reflective structure or cat's eyes to the trailing edge of a bullet.

The published U.S. Patent Application 2016/0209188 to Nugent does not build on Bellinger's or Smith's work. Nugent's publication does, however, propose a means for protecting polymer and glass bead retro-reflective material that could be added to the surface of projectiles. This technique could allow the ammunition reloading community to use commercially available retro-reflective tapes and sheeting coupled with a protective wax to allow for adaption of polymer based retro-reflective technology.

Laser Induced Fluorescence:

The body of information regarding laser induced fluorescence is growing as laboratories throughout the world explore potential applications for this technology. The present application foresees the use of tracer fluorescing material on a projectile or “bullet” which is fired from a weapon. When radiated after barrel exit by a laser co-located with the weapon, it allows an observer or electronic detector to track the projectile. This technology eliminates burning pyrotechnic tracer materials, allowing the trajectory of the projectile to match the trajectory of ball ammunition.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The principal object of the present invention is to provide for an observable and trackable projectile that, when coupled to an emitter, allows for the observation and recording of a projectile in flight. Further, when coupled to a fire control system, the recording of actual flight drop, drift and measurement of the time, space and location of a projectile in flight allows for improved precision and accuracy of weapon systems.

In both embodiments of the invention a bullet's metal jacket is used to form a closure with a metal disk providing a full metal jacket surrounding the bullet's core or cores. One embodiment identifies a disk with micro-prismatic retro-reflectors that are thus incorporated into the trailing edge of the projectile so that reflected light can be viewed and the projectile's position tracked by electro-optical devices in the vicinity of the weapon firing said projectile.

Alternatively a disk with a phosphor material, on the trailing edge of the projectile, is responsive and re-emits radiation when illuminated by an external electro-optical device. The radiated light emission from the laser emitter may be in the UV, visual, NIR or MWIR spectrum. The light reflected from the retro-reflective material may be in the UV, visual, NIR or MWIR spectrum.

Simple Deployment and Use:

The invention thus provides for a projectile with a special tracer incorporated and crimped into the projectile and closing a metal jacket around the projectile that, when illuminated at the trailing edge, allows electro-optical devices to locate, observe and track a projectile in flight. Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) ammunition is generally preferred for use by military forces for a number of important reasons. Accordingly, this application identifies a useful design to crimp thin metal disks, with certain features, to the trailing edge of the projectile. This design provides distinct benefits over prior art:

-   -   (1) Optimized, micro-structured prismatics provide highly         efficient reflectance over the projectile's trajectory as the         projectile changes attitude and the geometric relationship to         the observer changes.     -   (2) A micro-structure metal retro-reflector incorporated into a         disk, allows for manufacture by a specialized forming processor         at a manufacturer's facility with equipment to produce         microstructures.     -   (3) A micro-structure metal, especially one using a chrome plate         or polished nickel, can survive in the harsh environment of hot         propulsion gases.     -   (4) A micro-structure of ridges forming a prismatic structure is         thin, less than a millimeter, which reduces the cost and         complexity of stamping prismatic structures with specialized         dyes.     -   (5) Thin disk contraction allows ammunition producers to vary         the materials and components incorporated into a projectile's         core.     -   (6) FMJ encapsulating the entire projectile can provide certain         optimized terminal effects.

The small arms propellant industry is continuously modernizing and optimizing propellant mixtures. This proposed solution for special retro-reflective tracers includes preferred use of robust metal combinations such as aluminum, nickel and steel-chrome combinations. The surface and reflectance of these metal combinations are used in gun barrels and are known to remain resilient even after exposure to the high heat propellant burning environment. Additionally, for the purpose of designing and building projectiles with special non energetic tracers, it is understandably useful to use clean burning propellants.

As an alternative to using special tracers formed from metal disks with micro-prismatic features, tracers with metal disks incorporating a fluorescent material can be used that re-emit light when exposed to a narrow band laser emission source. According to the invention, technology being developed worldwide for applications of laser-induced florescence is used to allow electro-optical devices to track projectiles. These designs provide distinct benefits over prior art and also provide an advantageous method for manufacture and assembly of projectiles.

For a full understanding of the present invention, reference should now be made to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A shows the impact location and dispersion for ball ammunition.

FIG. 1B depicts the impact locations and dispersion for normal energetic tracer projectiles.

FIG. 1C depicts the impact locations and dispersion for ball/tracer mix.

FIG. 2A depicts a standard cartridge housing a projectile.

FIG. 2B depicts a standard cartridge housing a projectile in cross-section.

FIG. 2C depicts a standard cartridge in a breach firing a projectile, the projectile having exited the cartridge traveling in a barrel where burning, expanding propellant gases (not depicted) propel the projectile.

FIG. 3A provides a perspective view depicting a projectile tracking device that includes an emitter 18 illuminating a light cone 20 that intersects the ballistic path of a projectile in flight 10.

FIGS. 3B and 3C provide views that further illustrate a methodology to observe and record the projectile's location with a tracking device that illuminates the projectile's path.

FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate how an external radiation emission source 18 mounted on the barrel of the weapon emitting light in a cone of illumination 20 intersects with the projectile 10, along the projectile's flight path.

FIG. 4 depicts a external view of a FMJ projectile incorporating a special tracer.

FIG. 5A depicts two views of a special tracer that is in a wafer form.

FIG. 5B depicts a view of a special tracer that is in a wafer form and a magnified view of the surface morphology of the disk.

FIG. 5C depicts a view of a special tracer that is in a wafer with a non-burning phosphorous composition optimized to re-emit laser light.

FIG. 6A is a cut-away view of a projectile with a full metal jacket (“FMJ”) and a special tracer.

FIG. 6B depicts the special tracer, crimped to the projectile's trailing edge forming a fully encapsulating metal jacket.

FIG. 6C is a detailed, cross-sectional view of the crimped wafer forming the trailing edge of the projectile providing the projectile with a sealed outer metal body.

FIG. 6D are two perspective views (one in cross-section) of FMJ projectile and a special tracer crimped to the trailing edge.

FIG. 7 depicts one external perspective view and three cross-sectional perspective views of an FMJ projectile, with differing internal configurations, all incorporating a special tracer in the trailing edge.

FIG. 8A depicts a perspective and rear view of a projectile with a special tracer and a magnified view of the wafer's outer surface, the outer surface including micro-prismatic facets and morphology formed into a metal.

FIGS. 8B, 8Ca and 8Cb depict variant external morphology of a special retro-reflective tracer with magnified cut-away side views in 8Ca and 8Cb.

FIG. 8D depicts side or cross-sectional views of the metal, magnified pyramid morphology with illustrated path of retro-reflected light.

FIG. 8E shows that the angle of radiation incidence and reflectance are approximately parallel with a micro-prismatic surface.

FIG. 8F depicts a projectile's attitude in fight and a corresponding micro-prismatic surface, in the special tracer, perpendicular to the flight attitude. The figure further depicts the angle of illumination incidence and reflectance that results from the micro-prismatic surface.

FIG. 9 depicts a projectile with a special tracer that includes a fluorescent dye in a medium adhering to the disk, the fluorescent dye being able to re-emit light after illumination by a laser pulse.

FIG. 10 depicts are projectile with a special tracer that incorporates a fluorescent dye in a sub-strata with a protective or ablative coating.

FIG. 11 is a graph response curve (signal return versus time in milliseconds). Incorporating fluorescent phosphorous materials into a special tracer allow the projectile to re-emit light after excitement by laser.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1-11 of the drawings. Identical elements in various figures are designated with the same reference numerals.

FIGS. 1A-1C respectively show a Monte Carlo simulation of 0.308 sierra ball, tracer and ball/tracer bullet mix. Tracer bullets are normally fired with a ball to tracer mix. The mean impact point of bullets with and without burning tracers is significant when firing at longer ranges. The comparative tracer and ball comparisons highlight the ballistic drawbacks associated with use of energetic tracers.

According to the invention, the trackable projectile or “bullet” 10 is fabricated with a full metal jacket (“FMJ”) 26 and incorporates a special tracer 28. The special tracer is a not energetic but is provided with special characteristics that are incorporated into a thin metal disk 28. During assembly of the projectile, the disk or wafer 28 is crimped 32 to the trailing edge of the projectile's metal jacket 26 and forming a sealed metal jacket surrounding the bullet's internal material or materials 26A. The special tracer in wafer form either reemits or reflects radiation rearward.

The special tracers 28 are crimped 32 thus forming a trailing edge of the projectile 30. When illuminated by laser light from the vicinity of a weapon, the special tracer 34 light is reflected, allowing for identification and locating of the projectile in flight. FIGS. 6A-6D depict a projectile with a special tracer. The special tracer 28 is crimped by the bullet's exterior metal jacket 26 to form a sealed metal jacket 26A surrounding the bullet's interior metal or components. The special tracer 28 is formed to include micro-prismatic structures 34 in the exterior metal surface as depicted in FIGS. 8A-8D. With reference to FIGS. 3A-3C and 8E viewed in combination, the diagrams illustrate how an external device with an emitter 18 and detector 24 illuminate the projectile's flight path 20, and light 72 reaching the disk 34 is reflected in the direction of the incident radiation by the micro-prismatic structures 68, returning the light 74 at an angle of incidence to the external optical detector 24 co-located with the emitter 18. The array of micro-prismatic structures 68 produce a conical reflectance return 74 allowing for the reflected light to be observed by a detector 24. The cone of reflected light produced by the projectile 10 provides for continued tracking of the projectile, through its ballistic flight path 22 and provides for continued tracking where the rotational variation of spin has induced projectile yaw, precession and nutation.

A partially completed projectile may be assembled with the special tracer 28, fit the rear of the projectile as depicted in FIG. 6C, and then crimped 32 to the FMJ 26 by crimping or metal forming, thus completing a fully encapsulating metal jacket 26A and retaining the special tracer 28 within the finished projectile 10.

After completing manufacture of the projectile 10, the projectile is then loaded into a cartridge case 04 that is filled with propellant 08 forming a completed projectile 02 (FIGS. 2B and 2C). The product may benefit from use of a propellant 08 with an optimized stoichiometric balance, as such propellants are known to burn and minimize reside from propellant combustion. Thus, a clean burning propellant in combination with special tracers is useful in precluding the unwanted deposition of carbonaceous residue on a special tracer's surface.

In a second embodiment the wafer includes a fluorescent material (e.g., a dye) that is responsive and re-emits light when radiated with a laser. The light re-emission 46 returns a light signal to an optical detector or 24 tracking device. When illuminated by a light from the vicinity of a weapon 18, light is re-emitted from the projectile's trailing edge 30 in the direction of the weapon. FIGS. 6A-D depict projectiles with a special tracer. The special tracer 28 is crimped by the bullets exterior metal jacket 28 to form a sealed metal jacket 28A surrounding the bullet's interior metal or components. The special tracer disk 28, 36 includes fluorescent dyes responsive to laser emission that include phosphorous. FIG. 5C depicts a special tracer that exhibits a special light response (reemission) that is crimped to a FMJ projectile 58 that, when excited by laser light, reemits radiation as identified in FIG. 11. A cartridge with this type of special tracer in the trailing edge may incorporate an ablative or protective material 36B that burns or otherwise vaporizes after cartridge ignition.

There has thus been shown and described a novel trackable ammunition projectile which fulfills all the objects and advantages sought therefor. Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the subject invention will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering this specification and the accompanying drawings which disclose the preferred embodiments thereof. All such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention, which is to be limited only by the claims which follow.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

-   02 Cartridge. -   04 Cartridge Case with primer. -   06 Primer -   08 Propellant. -   10 Trackable Projectile (or Bullet) with a Special Tracer. -   11 Barrel of a Weapon. -   12 Weapon. -   14 Breach (in a barrel). -   16 Projectile attitude (in a flight path). -   18 Emitter (Laser or LED). -   20 Light Emission Cone (from an emitter near the weapon). -   22 Projectile Flight Path. -   24 Detector. -   26 Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) of a projectile. -   26A Fully encapsulating metal jacket composed of a FMJ and crimped     metal tracer disk. -   28 Special Tracer (prior to crimping). -   28B Special Tracer Wafer with Laser Re-emitting phosphor prior to     crimping. -   30 Special Tracer Crimped into the Projectile by the outer metal     jacket forming the surface of a projecile's trailing edge. -   32 Crimp of projectile's metal jacket to position Special Tracer     Wafer within the projectile. -   34 Special Tracer Wafer of metal with formed with micro-prismatic     surface (seen under magnification). -   36A Special Tracer Wafer with a Laser Re-emitting phosphor in a     sub-straight crimped into a projectile. -   36B Protective Coating for a Laser Re-emitting phosphor Tracer Wafer     fit the rear of a projectile. -   46 Light Return form a Special Tracer. -   52 Projectile with a Special Tracer and a conventional metal core. -   54 Projectile with a Special Tracer and a penetrator and core (Type     1). -   56 Projectile with a Special Tracer and a penetrator core (Type 2). -   58 Projectile with a Special Tracer incorporating a re-emitting     phosphor responsive to laser illumination. -   59 Projectile with a Special Tracer with a micro-prismatic surface. -   60 Micro-prismatic Retro-reflective surface morphology. -   62A Top view of a 3 sided micro-prismatic pyramid. -   62B Side view of a 3 sided micro-prismatic pyramid. -   64 An array of 3 sided micro-prismatic pyramids. -   66 A side or cut-away view (with magnification) of the special     tracer wafer's micro-prismatic exterior surface. -   68 An alternate design cut-away view (with magnification) of the     special tracer wafer's micro-prismatic exterior surface. -   70 Coincident Light Fall and Reflectance Incident Angle. -   72 Incoming light falling onto the special tracer. -   74 Reflected light returning to the angle of incidence. -   76 Rearward conical emission dispersion producing a return     reflection over a preponderance of a projectiles trajectory. -   78 Rearward Special Trace's surface is perpendicular to the     projectile's flight position. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An ammunition projectile configured to be fired from a weapon, said projectile having an elongated circular body with side and rear surfaces and a photo-luminescent material, disposed on the rear surface, that re-emits radiation when excited by incoming radiation from a radiation source.
 2. The ammunition projectile defined in claim 1, wherein said photo-luminescent material is additionally disposed on a side surface of the projectile body.
 3. The ammunition projectile defined in claim 1, wherein said photo-luminescent material is a fluorescent dye.
 4. The ammunition projectile defined in claim 3, wherein said fluorescent dye responds to excitation in one of the UV, visual and IR spectral bands.
 5. The ammunition projectile defined in claim 3, wherein said fluorescent dye responds preferentially to the laser light illumination in a narrow frequency range.
 6. The ammunition projectile defined in claim 3, wherein the fluorescent dye forms a coating on the projectile body.
 7. The ammunition projectile defined in claim 3, wherein said projectile includes a protective ablative material disposed on the projectile body to protect said fluorescent dye during cartridge ignition.
 8. The ammunition projectile defined in claim 7, wherein said fluorescent dye forms a coating on an inside surface of said transparent material.
 9. An ammunition projectile with a full metal jacket configured to be fired from a weapon, said projectile having an elongated circular body with a rear trailing edge that incorporates a thin metal disk, said metal disk being crimped to the rear trailing edge of the projectile, said metal disk having an exterior-facing, outer metal surface fabricated from a metal that includes reflective, micro-prismatic surfaces.
 10. The ammunition projectile defined in claim 9, wherein said metal disk is fabricated from a reflective nickel alloy.
 11. The ammunition projectile defined in claim 9, wherein said metal disk is fabricated from a highly polished aluminum alloy.
 12. The ammunition projectile defined in claim 9, wherein said metal disk is coated with a reflective chrome finish.
 13. The ammunition projectile defined in claim 9, wherein said metal disk is fabricated by at least one of stamping, etching, and forming with a die that produces prismatic features.
 14. The ammunition projectile defined in claim 9, wherein the outer surface of said metal disk includes a thin metal surface layer adhering to an underlying polymer sheet with prismatic features.
 15. The ammunition projectile defined in claim 9, wherein said metal disk is crimped to the metal jacket at the rear trailing edge of the projectile.
 16. The ammunition projectile defined in claim 15, wherein said metal disk is optimized for rearward reflectance of reflected light over a flight path of the projectile.
 17. A cartridge munition comprising, in combination: a cartridge shell having a base; a projectile having a rear portion inserted into the shell and mechanically connected thereto, thereby forming a propulsion chamber within the shell, said projectile having a full metal jacket; a pyrotechnic propulsive charge disposed within the propulsion chamber; and a pyrotechnic igniter disposed in the base of the shell by means of which the propulsive charge may be ignited such that propulsive gases of the propulsive charge exert a force on the rear of the projectile when they burn, causing the projectile to be driven out of the cartridge shell when the munition is chambered in a gun, wherein the projectile has an elongated circular body with a rear-facing trailing surface, adjacent the propellant, that incorporates a retro-reflector.
 18. The cartridge munition of claim 17, wherein the pyrotechnic propulsive charge comprises a composition with a balanced stoichiometric combustion producing minimal combustion residue, thereby to avoid dimming the retro-reflector.
 19. A method of manufacturing an ammunition projectile having a retro-reflective rear surface, said method comprising the steps of: (a) shaping a metal jacket forming an elongated cylindrical body with a rounded nose at a front end and a trailing edge with a circular opening at a rear end, a metal jacket being formed over one or more underlying metallic materials; (b) inserting a round disk in the circular opening, thereby fully encapsulating the formed underlying metal or metals and closing the opening, said disk having an outer surface facing rearward; and (c) crimping the trailing edge of the metal body around the disk to form a substantially impervious seal.
 20. The method defined in claim 18, wherein the rear-facing outer surface of the disk includes reflective, micro-prismatic surfaces forming a retro-reflector.
 21. The method defined in claim 18, wherein the rear-facing outer surface of the disk is coated with a fluorescent material. 